The New York Islanders may have another opening to jump into the middle of a deal, and if they do, the return could come in the form of a cap dump that helps their battered forward group right now.
With Mat Barzal, Matias Maccelli, and Cal Ritchie out for the time being, the Islanders could use extra bodies up front. That’s why a third-team role in a trade could make sense again, especially after the rumor last week that they would’ve been in that spot in a Conor Hellebuyck deal.
One name that fits the bill is Alex Killorn. The Anaheim Ducks are in need of cap relief, and Killorn is a player who is familiar with Mathieu Darche.
He’s a free agent after this season and carries a $6.250 million cap hit. If the Islanders could land him along with a draft pick, it would give them both added depth and another asset.
He could also have a similar impact on Victor Eklund that Brayden Schenn had on Cal Ritchie.
Evan Rodrigues is another option. The New Jersey Devils are in the mix for Dylan Larkin, especially after getting Hellebuyck, and Rodrigues is already part of that roster after being moved there in the Jacob Markstrom trade.
He’s produced five points in 13 games and is in the final year of a deal that pays him $3.075 million. On the Islanders, he could slot into the top six and potentially see power-play time.
Then there’s Tyler Seguin. The Dallas Stars may need to clear space if they want to chase a Dylan Larkin type of player, and the Detroit Red Wings might not want Seguin included in that package.
Given the state of the Islanders’ forward group, they could take a swing on the former No. 2 overall pick. Seguin is in the final year of his contract at $9.850 million, has six points in 12 games, and could bring needed depth scoring to the blue and orange.
The catch is his full no-movement clause, which could make a move out of Dallas difficult.
In Other News...
Islanders Could Soon Face A New Twist With Key Russian Players
International hockey is suddenly back in play for Russia after a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the IIHFs ban on Russian participation, saying the security concerns had not been backed by enough evidence. The decision clears Russia to return to the World Junior Championship in Edmonton and Red Deer, and it also opens the door for future events such as the World Championship and the 2030 Olympics.
For the Islanders, the ripple effect could be felt in a very specific way. Russian players in the organization may now have a path back to international tournaments, changing the summer and winter schedules for a club that has long had a notable Russian presence in its pipeline and on its roster. The full impact will depend on how those upcoming events are handled, but this ruling adds a new layer to the conversation around who might be available, and when. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Blue Line Suddenly Has An Opening Fans Need To Watch
The Islanders had a short-term answer ready when they needed another body on the blue line, recalling Isaiah George from AHL Hamilton after Ryan Pulock went down with an upper-body injury. Georges stay was brief, though, and the move underscored just how quickly the defense picture can change when a regular like Pulock is out of the lineup.
Pulock is expected to miss two to four weeks, which leaves the Islanders juggling their depth while waiting for a more permanent solution to settle in. George was sent back to Hamilton after the recall, but the door does not appear closed on another call-up soon, making this one of the more important roster situations to follow in the coming days. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Desperately Needed This Break After Looking Worn Down
The Islanders looked like a team that had simply run out of gas by the time they got to Edmonton, and the schedule had a lot to do with it. Playing their fourth game in seven days, with injuries already thinning the lineup and penalties adding to the burden, New York spent much of the night trying to keep up with an Oilers team that could press the pace. Head coach Peter DeBoer pointed to fatigue and the grind of multiple overtime games as the backdrop for the mistakes that piled up.
Now the Islanders finally get a breather before their next game against Carolina, and they badly need it. The time off should help them reset physically and mentally after a punishing stretch, while also giving the team a chance to see whether Matias Maccelli can work his way back into the mix. For a group that has looked worn down, the coming days may matter as much as anything else on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]